In addition to his commitment to sustainability Bernardo Fernandes is also passionate about fitness.

Help make your worksite a greener, more sustainable workplace in 2014!

The Green+Leaders program has already helped more than 250 health authority staff to improve environmental practices and behaviours in worksites across the Lower Mainland. Could your site be next?

Bernardo Fernandes, a unit clerk in Richmond Hospital’s ER, is doing his best to encourage improvements by increasing proper use of the recycling system and investigating how the hospital might further eliminate waste through ideas like food scraps recycling and reducing the use of disposable cups. He joined the Green+Leaders program this fall, motivated by his role as a foster parent and his experiences growing up in India.

“Where I come from we do not throw out anything. Everything is used and reused,” explains Fernandes, who finds the culture of disposability much more prevalent here in Canada. It’s something he’s trying to change at work and at home. “I want to be a good role model for  my kids and create a culture in my house and workplace where we start to think about what is a need and what is a want,” he says adding, “it’s a learning and teaching opportunity every day.”

Like all Green+Leaders Fernandes has unique motivations for joining the program, while sharing a common goal of creating a healthier environment for all. From composting to car-pooling systems, from coffee cup challenges to paper-less meetings, from Green Lab Checklists to energy conservation campaigns, Green+Leaders (G+Ls) play a key role in helping VCH do our part to reduce our footprint, and also create healthy communities for the people we serve.

G+Ls are staff volunteers who receive training, tools and peer support to encourage environmentally conscious behavior and workplace improvements. With a manager’s or director’s permissions, G+Ls spend 2-4 hours of work time per month on program activities of their choice. Together, we’re working towards a culture of sustainability throughout the organization.

The Green+Leaders program is now accepting applications for our next training session, held over two mornings on January 7th and 8th at VGH. If you’re keen to see change towards sustainability, or curious about what might be possible, get in touch with program coordinator, Olive Dempsey at olive.dempsey@fraserhealth.ca or 788-877-3481.